The Greatest Showman #708 – Pick-up by Car

A special car pick-up, #708, was arranged. The middle-aged man, standing in front of Renly, looked neat in his suit and leather shoes. Despite the journey, he wasn't disheveled. His appearance suggested he might be a financial executive or a tech entrepreneur. But his eyes were slightly red, and he patted Renly's arm three times, as if wanting to say more but was unable to express his emotions fully. Ultimately, it turned into a simple "thank you."

Renly sensed there was a story behind this man. The theme of "being crazy in love" seemed to resonate with him, touching a raw vulnerability. Perhaps it was the same dilemma the man was facing now. This empathy allowed Renly to break down the formal and professional demeanor, revealing a more genuine, compassionate side.

"My pleasure," Renly replied quietly. He knew better than anyone that words wouldn't heal these wounds—only time could. This was true for Derek Doremus, and it was true for the man standing in front of him.

The man raised his head, noticing the warm smile on Renly's face. He exhaled, seemingly relieved. "I hope more people will see your work. You're a real good actor," he said, lifting his boarding case and turning to leave.

Renly was about to take another step but caught sight of a familiar figure by the exit. The figure was dressed in a three-piece black suit, a white shirt, and a dark gray vest, topped with a long black trench coat. He was holding a black umbrella, the finely-carved wooden handle reminiscent of tree bark worn by time.

Nathan noticed Renly's movement and was about to speak when a calm, steady voice interrupted from his right: "Master Renly, welcome home."

Looking toward the voice, Renly saw the figure of an English gentleman, tall and firm, yet aging with dignity. The elderly man approached, stopped in front of Renly, and gave a slight bow. With a warm smile, he asked, "How was the journey?"

"Renly?" Nathan was confused. First, he didn't know this man; second, he didn't appear to be a fan. He quickly gestured to Roy, who was a bit ahead of them, asking with his eyes: What's going on? Is this the driver sent by the crew? But we weren't notified about it.

Renly glanced at Philip Demba, standing before him, and was surprised to realize that he wasn't as startled as he thought he would be.

Returning to London felt different this time. Thanks to the news that Edge of Tomorrow would be filming in the UK, Warner Bros. had already made public announcements, and the media had reported on it. There was also Eaton's unveiling ceremony to consider. Renly knew many of the guests would be familiar faces, so he hadn't tried to hide his itinerary.

This marked the first time the youngest son of the Houghton family would return to the London social scene in an official capacity. Renly knew this when he agreed to attend Eaton's event, but it didn't scare him, nor did he regret it. He wasn't going to rush back to the Bayswater mansion, but neither would he shy away from a potential confrontation.

Things had changed in the past year.

Philip's appearance at the airport to pick Renly up shouldn't have been surprising.

"It's going well. London's still as rainy as ever," Renly responded, smiling sincerely. He set aside the family issues and allowed himself to be his true self in front of Philip. "How about you? How are your knees? Is the rain affecting them?"

"They're much better," Philip replied, nodding. Sensing Renly's concern, he added, "I visited a traditional Chinese medicine clinic for cupping last week, and the doctor said it's been improving this year."

Given that the UK experiences rain year-round, Philip had struggled with minor knee and joint problems, especially as he aged. Western medicine had offered few solutions, aside from surgery, but Renly thought this might be related to rheumatism, and had suggested Chinese medicine.

After a brief exchange, Philip changed the subject. "Where's the young master's luggage? I'll take care of it. The driver's waiting."

"Renly?" Nathan and Roy both sensed something was off, and they walked over, visibly confused. "Do you know this man?"

"Yes, this is Philip. He watched me grow up," Renly explained briefly. "This is Nathan, and this is Roy. They're my colleagues."

Philip nodded politely, but his presence left Nathan and Roy feeling uneasy. Renly smiled and asked, "Who sent the car?"

Philip hesitated, looking troubled.

Renly raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening. "You'll find out when we get there." He turned to Nathan. "You two should head straight to the hotel. Make your own arrangements. Someone will take you back when I'm done."

Nathan and Roy were left stunned. Neither had encountered such a situation before. Roy, ever the practical one, spoke up. "Renly, are you sure? We've made arrangements for the car and dinner."

Renly gave Roy a reassuring pat on the arm, then quickly left the airport.

Philip nodded politely to both Nathan and Roy before swiftly following Renly outside.

As Roy and Nathan watched, Philip opened an umbrella for Renly, who stepped out into the rain. A black car soon pulled up. Philip escorted Renly inside, then opened the passenger door for himself and sat down.

Nathan and Roy, still processing, instinctively followed. They watched as the black car drove off, disappearing into the gray mist and rain. The entire situation felt strange, and they couldn't quite pinpoint why, but something about it didn't feel right.

"Roy, do you think Renly… has he been kidnapped?" Nathan blinked, voicing an unlikely suspicion. He couldn't help but entertain wilder thoughts—perhaps Renly had fallen under some sort of cult's influence, or been hypnotized. Whatever the reason, something about the situation was deeply unsettling.

Roy gave Nathan a puzzled look. "I'm not sure what's going on here. But I do know that the car was a Bentley."

Bentley, the royal brand, was beloved by the British aristocracy and the ultra-wealthy. It was a car that ordinary people couldn't afford. The fact that the car had a driver and was waiting for Renly raised eyebrows. The old gentleman's demeanor also didn't seem typical of just anyone.

"A Bentley?" Nathan said, clearly puzzled. "I didn't notice anything special about it."

Roy nodded thoughtfully. "Exactly."

For the nouveau riche or new aristocrats, flaunting wealth was common. But for old-school aristocrats, like the one who had just picked up Renly, the luxury was subtle, even understated. True wealth was often hidden, with elegance existing in the finest details.

It was this understated luxury that made Roy even more suspicious. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned to Nathan. "Do you remember what Philip called Renly?"

"Called him?" Nathan hadn't noticed. "What name?"

"'Master Renly,'" Roy replied, his tone now serious.

Meanwhile, Renly sat in the back of the car, his eyes closed, imagining the confusion and wonder in Nathan and Roy's minds. He knew that with his frequent visits to London, hiding the truth would soon become impossible, especially from those around him. The truth would be revealed in time.

Renly smiled inwardly at the thought. The expressions of Nathan and Roy had been truly amusing.

Through the rear-view mirror, Philip observed Renly's change in demeanor. He could tell that something was different about Renly since his return. Gone was the joy and vitality from before. Renly's expression now seemed a bit more distant.

Philip clearly remembered Renly as a child—calm, wise, and precocious. While other children were babbling, Renly was studying philosophy, literature, and music. The family had high expectations for him, and George and Elizabeth often boasted of Renly's brilliance to their noble friends.

But Renly wasn't the type to be manipulated. He responded to their expectations with playful rebellion. When they asked him to perform piano pieces for guests, he'd often play folk songs, much to their dismay.

The guests were always impressed by his independence and sharp insights. But George and Elizabeth didn't share the same enthusiasm. Renly's unconventional behavior embarrassed them, breaking the fragile family bonds.

Philip thought that the child Renly—the spirited, carefree one—had long been gone. But now, seeing him again, that vibrant spark seemed to have returned. It was a bittersweet reminder of the boy he once knew.